Garden effect: where to find London’s green eateries

NURSERY TALES

Tucked away in London’s leafy Richmond district lies a garden centre quite unlike any other. PETERSHAM NURSERIES was born in 1997 when Australian-Italian couple Gael and Francesco Boglione decided to move their young family from central London to Richmond, where they ended up buying a local plant nursery. Now a culinary destination thanks to its popular restaurant and teahouse, the nurseries still remain true to their original ethos with down-to-earth seasonal cooking by head chef Ambra Papa and her team and the relaxed garden-style décor.

COCKTAILS WITH JULES VERNE

What if all the botanical finds and eccentric souvenirs collected by Phileas Fogg, the explorer from Jules Verne’s classic novel, were placed on display in a bar? The result would be MR FOGG’S HOUSE OF BOTANICALS, a cosy Victorian-style cocktail bar in Fitzrovia, filled with plants, herbs, and spices that display Fogg’s famous literary travels around the world in 80 days. In the airy downstairs space, the cocktail menu showcases unusual Amazonian plants, while upstairs guests enjoy a more intimate cocktail experience inspired by the Victorian tradition of conveying messages through the act of giving certain flowers.

SWEET SENSATIONS

Inspired by their grandmother’s garden and the whimsical aesthetics of Wes Anderson’s films, SAINT AYMES was created by two sisters, Michela and Lois Wilson, who share a passion for all things beautiful. Located near Marble Arch, the café has quickly become a social media sensation thanks to the floral shopfront, the soft pink interiors, and the pastel-coloured hot chocolates, cupcakes, and macarons. Coming from design backgrounds, the sisters originally started out making artisan chocolates. The sweet treats on offer at the café reflect the same quest for a luxurious experience for both the eyes and taste buds.

JUST HANG IN THERE

One of the city’s hippest restaurants comes with a side dish of serious green therapy in the middle of busy London. Specialising in Japanese, Brazilian, and Peruvian cuisine, SUSHISAMBA opened in 2018 in the famed Opera Terrace atop the Market Building at Covent Garden. With its glorious “live ceiling” installation, the restaurant’s décor pays homage to its history as a former greenhouse for exotic plants. Boasting a mix of 700 South American and Japanese hanging plants, the mini-jungle basks in the natural light that streams from the floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto Covent Garden’s historic Piazza.

3 x summer coolers

FREAK ME OUT

Perhaps the most impressive vegan dessert in the city comes from Brick Lane-based Canvas Café, which serves a vegan-friendly version of the over-the-top icy favourite, the freak shake.

GOLDEN GOODNESS

The super-healthy turmeric latte gets a summery makeover in many London cafés. With venues around the city, Crussh was among the first to start the iced turmeric latte trend.

NON-NAUGHTY SCOOPS

Vegans, celiacs, and allergy sufferers don’t have to skip ice cream thanks to Soho-based Yorica, which specialises in tasty ice creams, crêpes, and waffles that are free from all 14 major allergens.

We care about your privacy

We use cookies to improve your user experience. Cookies are small text files that are saved in your browser. Some cookies are always on, as they are necessary
for the website to work properly. We will also use cookies for analytical purposes and to offer you personalised content and relevant advertising, please read more in our Cookie Policy.

By continuing to browse the website, you agree to our use of cookies. You can change your cookie preferences at any time.